[Step by Step Tutorial] LibreElec on H96 Max+ *** Also IR Remote support ***

  • Firstly I would like to thank all user who have made a contribution in support of RK3328 device, in particular:


    @ balbes150 from FreakTab Forum, @ hexdump from Armbian Forum, easyb, @ amirul From Armbian Forum and LE community.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    What you need:

    1 USB stick: at least 1 gb

    1 SD Card : strongly suggespted at least 4 gb


    Balena Etcher: balenaEtcher - Home


    LibreElec custom image for H96 Max+ : https://mega.nz/#!IxYXFIbb!DCiQiwYLK...-dyQ8IUDnDl2nA
    referred imaginatively by me as
    "Libre_Elec H96 Max+ _Crossover"

    IR Remote fix: https://mega.nz/#!hpZlxAzb!FaqEvNF_T...iwQmbXdOF7As3U

    Let's Start


    Install and open Balena Etcher ----> click on "select image" and choose Libre_Elec_H96_Max+ _Crossover.img

    Instert usb stick and SD card in your pc. -I suggespt to delete all partitions on these units, -make a backup before doing it-


    Click on "Select Target" and choose: USB stick and SD card

    Click on "Flash!"----> wait for FINISH.


    Now insert USB stick and SD card in your H96 Max+, connect HDMI cable to TV, connect power supply cable.

    After powering on, you can read: "PARTITION RESAZING IN PROGRESS" ,
    wait till the device is rebooted.

    After the reboot you can see the home screen of KODI, complete first setup using a usb mouse.


    Wait 5 minutes, then power off the device using the icon in KODI home screen.


    Remove power supply cable, remove USB stick, keep SD card inserted in H96 Max+.


    Power on the device, leave work the interafce till you see KODI HOME.

    Now you have succesfully installed LibreElec on SD card



    How to make IR Remote working:

    Open IR_Remote_fix_by_easyb.zip archive,----> extract: [h96mp , rc_maps.cfg] in a free USB stick.

    Open settings in KODI,----> click on File Manager ,----> click on Add source,----> set same as picture and click ok.

    1.jpg

    Insert your usb stick in H96 Max+

    You have now a situation like a next picture, you can see 2 different columns. -my usb stick is named "USB_STICK"-


    In left column open your USB stick clicking on her name, in right colum open .config folder clicking on it.

    2.jpg

    You must click one for one on two files : [h96mp , rc_maps.cfg] in left column, till their names become green,
    ----> right button of your mouse and click on copy,----> Confirm. Results in next picture

    3.jpg

    In the right column click and enter in rc_keymaps folder, reselect two files in left column, they become green,----> right button of your mouse, click on copy, Confirm. Results in next picture

    4.jpg

    Reboot device. You have now a working IR Remote

    -------------------------------

    HDMI AUDIO: works
    IR Remote: works
    Wifi usb dongle: works
    bluetooth usb dongle: works
    ON/OFF Led Indicator: works
    CEC: not tested

    -------------------------------


    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Final conclusions: what I've done, and why:

    I have assembled the image, but the credits belongs to others.

    I chose to use:

    The super system: LE 9.80 kernel 4 by balbes150: that support usb wifi and bluetooth dongles.

    The easyb dtb to be able to offer compatibility with HDMI AUDIO and have ON/OFF LED that works.

    The u-boot component of LE 9.1 generic official image, beacuse the easyb dtb doesn't work with balbes150 u-boot.

    i don't know why.

    IR Remote Fix by easyb: to make IR Remote control works.


    In the guide there could be inaccuracies regarding the terms used, forgive my lack of knowledge.
    There are LibreElec features that I haven't tested yet, any error report or correction report is welcome

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Edited 3 times, last by Digit97 (November 23, 2019 at 3:10 PM).

  • Tutorials are always welcome, but please mind the spelling of the name LibreELEC:

    it is a single word with many upper and some lowercase letters, and it's not written as two separate parts.

  • Thank you for tutorial.

    I have successfully installed libreELEC 9.2.0 on SDcard and Kodi is running from it on H96 max+ (RK3328).

    My problem is that Kodi on libreELEC is very slow and movie are lagging. On original android 9 is Kodi much faster.

    Is there any reason?

  • Hi, thanks for your instructions about putting libreelec on H96Max+.

    I have landed here because I have an H96Max+ around that I am not using and I would like to reuse it as a little home server inspired by https://blog.nobugware.com/post/2019/h96-…a-linux-server/.

    Unfortunately, I cannot seem to have the H96Max+ boot by following the instructions there. Furthermore, the Libreelec forum seems to be the only place where getting HDMI output out of this device is working.

    Thus I have a few questions:

    - Is your method using a mainline kernel or some other kernel? It is my understanding that mainline does not do HDMI on RK3328, is this the case?

    - Your instructions provide a Libreelec image. Do you think that a similar method could be used to get arch arm or armbian on the device? The armbian forum about 3328 is a bit messy and still have not understood whether someone succeeded on the H96Max+ or not. But it is my understanding that you got information from armbian developers too.

    Thanks and best regards!

  • You should be able to build Armbian with LE's kernel version and current patch-set. HDMI works although with random box devices there are more unknowns. There's no harm in trying.

  • Are there any updates to this project? I recently acquired an H96Max+ and I'm trying the instructions. So far so good, but seems to have locked up setting up the Add Source. Will continue to try.